Muscles of the Anterior Forearm Flashcards
What categories are the muscles of the anterior forearm split into?
Superficial, Intermediate, Deep
What do the muscles in the anterior compartment of the forearm do?
In general, produce flexion at the wrist and fingers, and pronation
What are the superficial muscles of the anterior forearm?
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Palmaris longus
Flexor carpi radialis
Pronator teres
What do all the muscles of the superficial compartment of the anterior forearm originate from?
A common tendon, which arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus
What does the flexor carpi ulnaris have?
A humeral and ulnar head
What is the proximal attachment of the humeral head of the FCU?
Medial epicondyle of the humerus (common flexor origin)
What is the proximal attachment of the ulnar head of the FCU?
Olecranon and posterior border of ulna (via aponeurosis)
What is the distal attachment of the FCU?
Pisiform
Hook of hamate
5th metacarpal
What is the innervation of the FCU?
Ulnar nerve (C7, C8)
What % of the population is the palmaris longus absent in?
15%
What is the proximal attachment of the palmaris longus?
Medial epicondyle of the humerus (common flexor origin)
What is the distal attachment of the palmaris longus?
Distal half of the flexor retinaculum and apex of palmar aponeurosis
What is the innervation of the palmaris longus?
Median nerve (C7, C8)
What is the arterial supply of the palmaris longus?
Ulnar artery
What is the function of the palmaris longus?
Flexes hand at wrist
Tenses palmar aponeurosis
What is the proximal attachment of the flexor carpi radialis?
Medial epicondyle of the humerus (common flexor origin)
What is the distal attachment of the FCR?
Base of 2nd metacarpal
What is the innervation of the FCR?
Median nerve (C6, C7)
What is the arterial supply of the FCR?
Ulnar artery
What is the action of the FCR?
Flexes and abducts hand (at wrist)
What does the lateral border of the pronator teres form?
The medial border of the cubital fossa
What does the pronator teres have?
An ulnar head and a humeral head
What is the proximal attachment of the ulnar head of the pronator teres?
Coronoid process
What is the proximal attachment of the humeral head of the pronator teres?
Medial epicondyle of the humerus (common flexor origin)
What is the distal attachment of the pronator teres?
Middle of convexity of the lateral surface of the radius
What is the innervation of the pronator teres?
Median nerve (C6, C7)
What is the arterial supply of the pronator teres?
Ulnar artery
Anterior ulnar recurrent artery
What is the main action of the pronator teres?
Pronates and flexes the forearm at the elbow
What muscle is in the intermediate compartment of the anterior forearm?
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Why is the flexor digitorum superficialis a good anatomical landmark?
The median nerve and ulnar artery pass between its two heads, and then travel posteriorly
What does the FDS have?
Humero-ulnar head
Radial head
What is the proximal attachment of the humero-ulnar head of the FDS?
Medial epicondyle (common flexor origin) and coronoid process
What is the proximal attachment of the radial head of the FDS?
Superior half of anterior border of the radius
What happens to the FDS at the wrist?
It splits into four tendons, which travel to through the carpal tunnel
Where is the distal attachment of the FDS?
Shafts of the middle phalanges of medial four digits
What is the innervation of the FDS?
Median nerve (C7, C8, T1)
What is the arterial supply of the FDS?
Ulnar artery
What is the main action of the FDS?
Flexes middle phalanges at proximal interphalangeal joints of middle four digits
Acting more strongly, it also flexes proximal phalanges at metacarpophalangeal joints
What are the muscles of the deep anterior forearm?
Flexor digitorum profundus
Flexor pollicis longus
Pronator quadratus
What does the flexor digitorum profundus have?
Medial part and lateral part
What is the proximal attachment of the FDP?
Proximal three quarters of medial and anterior surfaces of ulna and interosseous membrane
What happens to the FDP at the wrist?
It splits into four tendons which pass through the carpal tunnel
What is the distal attachment of the medial part of the FDP?
Bases of distal phalanges of 4th and 5th digits
What is the distal attachment of the lateral part of the FDP?
Bases of the distal phalanges of the 2nd and 3rd digits
What is the innervation of the medial part of the FDP?
Ulnar nerve (C8, T1)
What is the innervation of the lateral part of the FDP?
Anterior interosseous nerve, from median nerve (C8, T1)
What is the arterial supply for the FDP?
Ulnar artery
Anterior interosseous artery
What is the main action of the medial part of the FDP?
Flexes distal phalanges 4 and 5 at the distal interphalangeal joints
What is the main action of the lateral part of the FDP?
Flexes distal phalanges 2 and 3 at the distal phalangeal joints
Where does the flexor pollicis longus lie?
Laterally to the FDP
What is the proximal attachment of the FPL?
Anterior surface of the radius and adjacent interosseous membrane
What is the distal attachment of the FPL?
Base of distal phalanx of the thumb
What is the innervation of the FPL?
Anterior interosseous nerve, from median nerve (C8, T1)
What is the arterial supply of the FPL?
Anterior interosseous artery
What is the main action of the FPL?
Flexes phalanges of thumb
What shape is the pronator quadratus?
Square
Where is the pronator quadratus found?
Deep to the tendons of the FDP and FPL
What is the proximal attachment of the pronator quadratus?
Distal quarter of anterior surface of ulna
What is the distal attachment of the pronator quadratus?
Distal quarter of anterior surface of radius
What is the innervation of the pronator quadratus?
Anterior interosseous nerve, from median nerve (C8, T1)
What is the arterial supply of the pronator quadratus?
Anterior interosseous artery
What is the main function of the pronator quadratus?
Pronate forearm
Deep fibres bind radius and ulna together
